www.socialistworker.co.
uk
As bosses and government go on the attack ...
use all of our
strength to win!
T
he stakes could not be
higher, and postal workers are
absolutely right to strike this
week. Royal Mail bosses and the
government are using every weapon
they have against the public service
and the workforce.
Documents leaked last week show that
Royal Mail bosses have a clear plan to
smash the power of the CWU.
Royal Mail is employing 30,000
temps to reduce the backlog.
The Association of Chief Police
Officers said that it was closely
monitoring the situation and had issued
guidance to forces on dealing with
large-scale strike action.
Bosses hope to inflict a defeat that
will change the industry for ever. And
disgracefully the Labour government
backs them all the way.
On the offensive
But postal workers can win—so long as
they are as determined and organised as
the bosses’ side.
There is massive public support for a
fightback to defend the public service,
resist job losses, halt union-busting and
to hit back at the millionaires at the top
of the industry.
Instead of begging for management
to go to ACAS, the CWU should be
concentrating on strengthening the
picket lines, involving as many workers
as possible in the dispute, and getting
other unions to pledge solidarity.
No cash for Labour!
How much more evidence does anyone
need that Labour is on the other side in
this dispute? Why does the CWU continue
to shovel money into the coffers of
the party which is actively plotting the
downfall of the CWU!
Instead of fattening Mandelson’s
party, the CWU should use the money for
its own campaigns and get involved in
discussions with unions such as the RMT
and the PCS about a left alternative to
Labour.
Royal Mail has been firmly on the
offensive over the last week.
All the scabbing plans in the bosses’ plan
world would fail if 120,000 postal
workers were on indefinite strike.
is revealed
Even escalating strikes would push For the full document, get your copy
management over the edge. of this week’s Socialist Worker
Temps make a difference only if there The documents leaked last week
is a very low level of strikes. detail Royal Mail’s assault:
The industry will be run on the
Talks not enough bosses’ terms and the CWU will not
The point of the strikes is to win a be allowed to get in the way. RM
proper settlement. It is not enough to say they will deliver “the necessary
get management to agree to talks. 2009 changes with or without union
It will not be a success unless agreement,” and that “Putting
there are clear national agreements, a transformation on hold because of
withdrawal of the executive action, and non-agreement in not an option”.
If the CWU blocks cuts, job losses
a deal on pay, pensions and a shorter and new work patterns then RM will
working week.
“consider programme of reducing
And there must be full reinstatement relationship with union.”
of all those who have been sacked or Throughout the dispute “Any non-
disciplined during the dispute.
Local reps and the rest of the rank
agreement…must mean the union
lose.” If union reps resist then “serve
and file need to organise inside the notice on current IR framework and
CWU to keep up the pressure on the facilities/release agreement and
leadership and to organise independently substitute legal minimum.”
if necessary. They may want to replace the CWU
because “actively down-dialling
We can win the role of the union is likely to
succeed only if alternative forums
Escalate the action for employee voice are available.”
Call a national demonstration
Management has ministers
Build support groups in every city support and have “positioned
Start a full ‘do the job properly’
things in such a way as there is
campaign to build the backlog shareholder [government], customer
Demand the TUC and other trade and internal support for change
unions organise massive fund raising without agreement”.
and full solidarity.
■ I would like to get Socialist Worker regularly
■ I want to join the Socialist Workers Party
Name.................................................................................................................
Address.............................................................................................................
..........................................................................................................................
Phone.............................................e-mail........................................................
Postafterresult2
Return to SW industrial dept PO Box 42184, London Circulation 020 7819 1171
SW8 2WD industrial@swp.org.uk Editorial 020 7819 1180